Steam-boiler attachment.



W. M. FULTON.

STEAM BOILER ATTACHMENT.

APPLICATION FILED Nov.1e, 1912.

1,()971 23h Patented May 19, 19,14,

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COLUMBIA PLANOGRAPM co., WASHINGTON. D4 c.

W. M. FULTON. STEAM BOILER ATTACHMENT. APPLICATION FILED NOV. 18, 1912A Patented May 19, 1914.

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WTNESSES \NVENTOR An Q Y @a/C 7h. .754/95,

AllorneJ/S COLUMBIA PLANDGIMPM co.. WASHINGTON, D, c.

UNTTE STATES T OFFTCE.

WESTON Bi. FULTON, OF KNOXVILLE, TENNESSEE, ASSIGNOR TO THE FULTON COMPANY, OF KNOXVILLE, TENNESSEE, A CORPORATION OF MAINE.

STEAM-BOILER ATTACHMENT.

To ail whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, VEsroN M. FULTON, citizen of the United States, and resident of Knoxville, Tennessee, have invented a new and useful Improvement in Steam-Boiler Attachments, which invention is fully set forth in the following specification.

This invention relates to improvements in steam boiler attachments, and particularly toidevices of this class which are adapted to indicate and control steam pressure and regulate the air draft in house heating furnaces.

It is customary to provide a house heating steam furnace with a steam gage, a damper regulator and some form of safety valve such as a pop-ofi' valve. Each of these devices necessitates tapping separate openings into the boiler casting. This practice requires three separate handlings of a heavy and bulky casting on the drilling machine as this operation is usually done at the factory. The manipulation of this bulky casting requires the expenditure of labor and time and the casting is unnecessarily weakened at these points unless special provision is made in making the casting to strengthen the areas into which the holes are drilled. Furthermore, the chances of leaking at the places where these connections are made increases with the number of openings and this is particularly the case if the openings are made at the place where the furnace is installed since the facilities of the factory are absent at such times.

It is the object of my invention to overcome the above objections as far as practicable by providing a unitary structure which will perform the three functions of a damper-regulator, safety valve and pressure indicator or perform any two of these functions and which requires but one tapping for attaching the device to the boiler casting. The number of parts required for performing these functions are reduced by making parts perform double functions and the cost of manufacture and installing is lessened while efficiency in structure and operation is increased.

A further object of my invention is to utilize in a device of this kind the saine means for operating the damper lever as used for operating the pop-off valve, while permitting either device to perform its function when the other has, for accidental causes, been rendered inoperative.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Application filed November 18, 1912.

Patented May 19, 1914. Serial No. 732,059.

By way of giving mechanical expression to the inventive ideas involved in my invention, I have shown in the accompanying drawings some of the structural forms embodying my improvements, but it is to be understood that these drawings are designed merely as illustrations to assist the description of the invention and not as defining the limits thereof, in which,

Figure l a view in central vertical section of a device embodying my improvements. Fig. 2 is a perspective view of the device mounted in a steam boiler. Fig. 3 is a detail view in perspective of parts shown in Fig. 1. Fig. 4 is a horizontal sectional view taken on the line 4&4 of Fig. l and Fig. 5 is a detail view.

In the form of the device shown in Fig. l, the base on which the parts are supported consists of a cylindrical portion l having an interiorly threaded hub 2 adapted to engage with a connection in the boiler casting. The top of this cylindrical portion l is provided with a flange 3 preferably formed integral therewith. To this iange 3 is Secured the casing wall l by means of an interior flange 5 on the casing by aid of screws G. Between flanges 3, 5 is held a ring 7 to which is secured the lower end of a collapsible and extensible corrugated metal wall forming a vibrating vessel. A washer 9 is preferably inserted between the flanges to prevent leaking. Fastened to the upper end of wall 8 by solder or other means to make a tight joint is a dish-shaped rentering cylindrical wall 10 which extends well within the vibratory vessel and terminates in a flange l1 to which is fastened a valve seat 12 by means of a clamp nut 13. Preferably the lower end of wall 10 is reduced somewhat in diameter and is formed into a hexagonal or other angular shape to receive the correspondingly shaped nut 13 which may thus be held from rotation while the threaded portion of the valve seat is screwed into the saine. lVithin the cylindrical wall 10 and above its bottom is located a partition or false bottom 14 secured thereto by a shallow flange l5 extending part way around the wall 10 and by a longer flange or extension 1G extending parallel to the side of wall l0 and extending outward at the top to form a steam delivery conduit 17, the bottom of which is formed by a flat plate 18 of annular form secured to the turned-over 110r edge of wall 10. The conduit 17 delivers to the atmosphere through an opening 19 in wall 4. On the top wall of the casing 4 is a lug 2() in which is pivotally mounted a rocker 21 supporting an adjustable damper operating lever 22 and a depending link member 23, the lower end of which is narrowed to receive the forked valve stem 24 which is connected thereto by a pivot pin 25. The stem 24 terminates in a valve 26 and is provided with radial wings 27 for properly guiding the valve into seat 12. Connection between link 23 and the movable wall 10 is made through the adjustable stop nut 28 on the threaded portion of link 23, spring 29 and false bottom 14. The link 23 and valve stem 24 play through a anged opening 30 in the false bottom 14 and hold the valve in yielding engagement with its seat. At one side of section 1 and integral therewith is a chamber 3l in open communication wit-h the space of section 1. lVithin this chamber 31 is a partition 32 rising from the bottom and extending to near the top wall, thereby forming a restricted passage between the two spaces. In the top wall of chamber 31 is screwed a spud 33 by aid of a lug 34 located on the interior surface of the spud. The upper end of the Spud is provided with a union nut 35 into which is screwed the neck of a steam gage 36. A flanged housing 37, secured to the casing 4 by screws 38 and having a sight opening 39, incloses and protects the gage.

The parts of the device are assembled and adjusted before they are sent away from the' factory and is attached to the boiler when the latter is installed by means of a standard pipe nipple and operates in the following manner: Live steam enters the space between the corrugated wall 8 and wall 10, the valve 2G being normally closed by spring 29 for all pressures below a predetermined pressure at which it is desired the valve should open. Water of condensation accumulates in chamber 31 and seals the opening leading to the steam gage 36, thereby keeping the interior parts of the gage from injurious action of live steam. The gage then operates in the usual manner. Steam pressure acting on wall 8 extends it upward carrying with it link 23 which lifts and tilts the lever 22 resting in rocker 21. The dampers of the boiler are thus co-ntrolled in the manner described in my U. S. Patents 904,123 and 909,176. The nut 28 is so adjusted on link 23 that for the normal range -of pressures occurring in the boiler, as controlled by the damper regulator operating the dampers of the boiler, it will not contact with the under surface of the top wall of the casing, but should an abnormal pressure occur in the boiler the extension of corrugated wall 8 carries the link 23 and consequently the nut 28 upward until the latter contacts with the top wall and limits the upward movement of link 23, and valve 26 carried thereby. hould the steam pressure now continue to rise until it reaches the predetermined pressure at which it is desired that the relief valve shall operate,then corrugated wall 8 will be further extended in opposition to the spring pressure of spring 29 and lift the valve seat 12 carried by wall 10. Steam now escapes past valve 26 into the space below false bottom 14 and is conducted to the atmosphere through conduit 17. Boiler pressure is relieved as indicated by the steam gage, and the parts assume their normal working position. A small amount of steam escapes around the link in passage 30. lf this 'becomes objectionable it may be prevented by suitable packing.

It will be seen from a consideration of the construction that any slight friction in the working parts of the relief valve which would Cause an ordinary pop-valve to stick and fail to operate cannot affect the disk- Valve 26 for the reason that a slight pressure of steam on the extended surface of wall 8 is capable of exerting very great pressure to lift the valve seat 12 o valve 26 and further because of the great pressure that wall 8 is capable of exerting under a slight steam pressure spring 29 can be made strong and thereby can hold valve 26 against its seat securely without leaking steam and without fear of sticking when called on to relieve excess of boiler pressure. lt will be further noted that my improvement fulls the three-fold function of damper regulator, pop-oniI valve and steam gage and can be installed on the boiler by making only one tapping. The steam gage is protected by the casing .and when disabled can be readily replaced and this is true in respect to each of the parts of the device.

A further and very important advantage results in this device from actuating the damper lever and pop-olf valve by the same vibratory wall in the manner described. Should, for instance, the damper lever refuse to move by accident to its associated parts, the vibratory wall will still lift the valve seat from its valve, when the boiler pressure exceeds the' predetermined limit of safety, and permit the steam pressure to be relieved. Should, on the other hand, the pop-oil' valve refuse to act, as it sometimes may do when the scale deposits on the parts of the valve and causes the valve to stick to its seat, the vibratory wall will still be able to operate the damper. lVhile the same means that operates the damper lever operates the pop-off valve, the means has been adapted to perform this double function without interfering with the proper functioning of either device acting alone.

the mechanical form of the various elements entering into the structure,A Without departing' from the spirit of my invention,l and such variations are meant to be included in the claims.

What is` claimed is l. In a steam boiler attachment, the combination of a chambered support havingr a steam supply inlet, a vibratory vessel open to said steam supply and having a movable end .wall forming a closure for t-he vessel, a pressure; relief valve normally movable with said wall, and damper operating means operated through said valve by movement of said wall.

2. In a steam boiler` attachment, the combination of a chambered support having a steam supply inlet, a vibratory vessel open to said steam supply and having a movable end wall forming a closure for the vessel, a pressure relief valve normally movable with said Wall, damper operating means operated through said valve by movement of said wall, and means for arresting the movement of said valve after a predetermined travel of said wall. n .f

3. In a steam boiler attachment, the combination Aof a chambered support having a steam supply inlet, a corrugated collapsible and extensible vessel mounted on said support and open to said steam supply and having an inflexible movable end Wall, a valve seat carried by said wall and a springv pressed valve normally seated on said seat and adapted to open under abnormal pressures for the escape of steam through said wall and power transmitting means associated with said movable wall. V

4. In a steam boiler attachment, the combination of a chambered support having a steam supply inlet, a vibratory vessel open to said steam supply having an iniexible movable end wall, a valve seat on said Wall and a valve normally movable with said wall and means holding said valve on its seat and yielding under abnormal pressure to discharge steam into the atmosphere and power transmitting means connected to one of said movable members.

5. In a steam boiler attachment, the combination of a chambered support having a steam supply inlet, a vibratory vessel open to said steam supply mounted in said support and having an inflexible movable end wall, a valve seat and a spring-pressed valve supported by said Wall, the two members being adapted for movement relative to each other under abnormal steam pressure for the discharge of steam.

6. In a steam boiler attachment, the combination of a chambered support having a 7 Ina steam boiler'attachment, the comi bination of a chambered support having a steam: supply inlet, a vibratoryvess'el open to said steamsupply-and mounted on said l support andv having a' rentering inelastic' movable endi'wall provided with a valve con- Ytrolled opening, and a spring interposed between said valve'and movable. end Wall 'normally holding the valve closed and a stop in the path of said spring causing the latter to yield under abnormal pressure within said vessel to open the valve and relieve the steam pressure.

8. In a steam boiler attachment, the combination of a chambered support having a steam supply inlet, a vibratory vessel mounted on said support and open to steam supply, an inelastic movable end Wall fast to one end of said vessel, a valve seat on said wall, a valve seated on said seat, a power transmitting member hinged to said valve, a spring acting against a stop on said member and said movable end wall and means limiting the `upward movement of said power transmitting member.

9. In a steam'boiler attachment, the comsaid vessel and having a valve controlled opening, a second Wall forming with the rigid wall a steam escape passage, a power transmitting member connected with said valxae and working through an opening in said second wall and resilient means normally acting through said power transmitting member to hold the valve closed and yielding under abnormal pressure to open the same. y

1Q. In a steam boiler attachment, the coin-vv bination of a chambered support having a steam supply inlet, a vibratory vessel open to said steam supply vand mounted on said support and having a dish-shaped inelastic movable end Wall, damper operating means located in said depression and having a yielding connection with said wall and a valve controlled opening in said Wall the valve of which is normally closed by the pressure of said yielding connection.

11. In a steam boiler attachment, the combination of a chambered support having a steam supply inlet, a vibratory vessel open to said steam supply and mounted on Said support, a dish-shaped end Wall closing the movable end of said vessel and provided with a steam discharge chamber, said end wall having a valve-controlled opening between said chamber and steam supply, and damper operating means yieldingly connected to said movable wall and to said valve for the purpose described.

12. 1n a steam boiler attachment, the combination of a chambered support having a steam supply inlet, a vibratory vessel open to said steam supply mounted on said support, a chambered end wall closing the movable end of said vessel, the chamber being open to the atmosphere, said end wall having a valve controlled opening between said chamber and steam supply, damper operating means having a yielding connection with said wall and said valve, and a casing containing a steam gage open to said steam space and inclosing said elements.

In testimony whereof I have signed this specification in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

WESTON M. FULTON.

Vitnesses:

MARY L. JONES, HINES S. MCCOY.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for ve cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents,

Washington, D. C. 

